Barnard architecture students: 'We Won't Build Your Wall'

Students at Barnard College have posted a large sign saying “We Won’t Build Your Wall” on the facade of the Student Center following the inauguration of President Trump.

The display is a potential violation of the school's posting policy, but administrators insist that it "does not represent the opinion of Barnard College" even though it has been allowed to remain in place since at least February 1.

Students at Barnard College have posted a large sign saying “We Won’t Build Your Wall” on the facade of the Student Center following the inauguration of President Trump.

Despite potentially violating the Barnard College posting policy, the signage—which multiple professors and administrators told Campus Reform is a student initiative— has been permitted to stay up since at least February 1.

“Similar signs have been posted by architecture students throughout the city and around the nation.”

Karen Fairbanks, a professor at the Columbia + Barnard Architecture Department, which is housed inside the Barnard College Student Center, confirmed that the sign was “installed by students” and forwarded a media inquiry to them.

Those students did not respond to a request for comment.

The sign has been permitted to stay up despite being a potential violation of the Barnard College posting policy, which outlines that posters “may be posted only on designated bulletin boards…and shall not be larger than 11"x17.”

Anna O’Sullivan, a Barnard College spokesperson, told Campus Reform that the sign “was created by architecture students,” noting that “similar signs have been posted by architecture students throughout the city and around the nation,” but insisting that the display “does not represent the opinion of Barnard College.”

During election campaign years, 501(c)(3) organizations are prohibited from making statements which “[express] approval or disapproval for one or more candidates’ positions and/or actions” on an issue,” according to IRS policy.

Toni Airaksinen is Columnist at PJ Media and a Consultant at Youth Radio. She was previously a New Jersey Campus Correspondent, reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform with a focus on Title IX, the OCR, and the First Amendment. During college, she also was a columnist for Quillette and The Columbia Spectator. Her exclusives have been featured on FOX News and The Drudge Report. She graduated from Barnard College in 2018.

CampusReform.org is a project of the Leadership Institute. The Leadership Institute is a non-partisan educational organization approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a public foundation operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. The Leadership Institute does not endorse, support, or oppose candidates or proposed legislation. The Institute has an open admissions policy; all programs are open to the public. Contributions to the Leadership Institute by individuals, corporations, and foundations are tax deductible.
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